Apparatus and method for protecting tissues during cryoablation

Abstract

An apparatus and method for protecting the neurovascular bundle during cryoablation of tissues of the prostate by heating the vicinity of the neurovascular bundle while cooling pathological tissues of a prostate to cryoablation temperatures, thereby cryoablating pathological tissues while protecting the neurovascular bundle from damage. A cryoprobe operable to cool a distal operating tip while heating a proximal shaft is presented.

1 . A method for protecting at least a portion of a neurovascular bundle while cryoablating tissues of a prostate, comprising
 (a) positioning an operating tip of a cryoprobe in a vicinity of pathological tissue within a prostate;   (b) positioning a heating probe in a vicinity of a neurovascular bundle; and   (c) heating said heating probe while cooling said operating tip of said cryoprobe to cryoablation temperatures, thereby cryoablating pathological tissue near said operating tip while preventing freezing of tissue of said neurovascular bundle near said heating probe;   
     thereby preventing damage to at least a portion of said neurovascular bundle.